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| Koo Yoon-cheol, head of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, speaks during a press conference at the Government Complex Seoul, Tuesday, over Japan's decision to release radioactive water into the sea. Yonhap |
Washington defends Tokyo's decision amid controversy
By Kang Seung-woo
Korea expressed deep regret Tuesday over Japan's decision to dump water contaminated with radioactive material into the Pacific Ocean.
The Japanese government announced earlier in the day that it will release the radioactive water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea in 2023 despite protests from Korea and China. The water was contaminated after the nuclear plant was destroyed by an earthquake and subsequent tsunami in 2011.
"The administration expresses strong regret over the Japanese government's decision to release contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean," Koo Yoon-cheol, head of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, said in a press conference after an emergency vice-ministerial meeting at the Government Complex Seoul to discuss the government's position and measures on Tokyo's announcement.
"The government will take every necessary measure in line with the principle of keeping the Korean people safe from the contaminated water from the Fukushima plant."
The administration also called on Japan to ensure transparent disclosure and verification of information related to the release of the contaminated water.
"In regard to Japan's decision, we will clearly deliver our people's protest to the Japanese government. We will demand specific measures from Japan to ensure the safety of our people and prevent damage to the marine environment," Koo said.
"The government will refer its concerns to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and request the international community to objectively review safety issues related to the Fukushima water release."
The foreign ministry also called in Japanese Ambassador to Seoul Koichi Aiboshi later in the day to express grave concerns over the decision.
Along with Korea, the Chinese government also expressed its disapproval, saying that despite doubts and opposition from home and abroad, Japan had unilaterally decided to release the Fukushima nuclear wastewater into the sea before exhausting all other possible safe methods of disposal and without fully consulting neighboring countries and the international community.
"This is highly irresponsible and will severely affect human health and the immediate interests of people in neighboring countries," the Chinese foreign ministry said, adding that the leak of large amounts of radioactive material to date has had far-reaching implications on the marine environment, food safety and human health.
It also said a review report by an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expert team pointed out that if the wastewater containing tritium from the Fukushima nuclear plant was discharged into the sea, it would affect the marine environment and people's health in neighboring countries and that the "treated" wastewater, as claimed by Japan, needs to be further purified to remove other radionuclides.
"We strongly urge the Japanese side to face up to its responsibility, follow the science, fulfill its international obligations and duly respond to the serious concerns of the international community, neighboring countries and its own people. It should reevaluate the issue and refrain from wantonly discharging the wastewater before reaching a consensus with all stakeholders and the IAEA through full consultations," the Chinese ministry said.
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| A member of an environmental group wearing a mask depicting Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga simulates the disposal of radioactive water into the ocean during a rally in front of the former Japanese Embassy building in Seoul, Tuesday, following the Japanese government's decision to release stored water containing radioactive material from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
Environmental groups also urged the Japanese government to revoke the decision, denouncing it as "nuclear terrorism."
An alliance of 31 environmental groups issued a statement saying that they were angered by Japan's unilateral decision to dump the polluted water despite opposition from neighboring countries.
"The Japanese government said it will dilute the level of radioactivity in the water, but the total amount of radioactive materials will not change. It would be an irreversible disaster for people as well as the marine ecosystem," it said.
Despite the protests from Korea and China, the United States defended Japan's decision.
"The United States is aware that the Japanese government examined several options related to the management of the treated water currently being stored onsite at the Fukushima Daiichi site," the U.S. Department of State said.
"In this unique and challenging situation, Japan has weighed the options and effects, has been transparent about its decision, and appears to have adopted an approach in accordance with globally accepted nuclear safety standards."
In response, Koo said, "We have delivered our concerns to the U.S., but the U.S. may react that way, because Korea is a neighbor of Japan and the U.S. is located far more distant than Korea," Koo said.
